PANAJI
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and national spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao on Monday categorically stated that Special Status for Goa is a closed chapter.
Fielding questions from the media after a brief visit to the state, BJP’s national spokesperson blamed the 14th Finance Commission and said that even states with existing special status will be reviewed.
“The 14th Finance Commission has recommended to do away with special status of states. Even those who have special status will now be reconsidered. This is because the 14th Finance Commission has promised higher devolution of funds. This chapter is closed for now,” Narasimha Rao said.
He cited the example of Andhra Pradesh which has also been demanding special status after bifurcation from Telangana.
Narasimha Rao and BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma were down in the State to conduct a media workshop for the BJP cadre. They sought to stress that focus on development and social security schemes will help them sail through.
“Unlike the Congress whose focus has been on corruption our focus has been on development and social security schemes,” he said, seeking to point out that there has not been a single case of corruption against his government.
When asked to comment on Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar’s indictment by the High Court in the Serula land grab case, Sharma said that Parulekar has already given his response.
When asked about the drop in rankings in the ease of doing business for Goa, Sharma pointed to the India Today survey which placed Goa first among small states.
When asked about the failure of the government over the removal of casinos, he said that the government is doing whatever is necessary.
